recipe: squash soup

I think that everyone has their own recipe for squash soup and I could have sworn that I already made a post of this recipe and was surprised to find out that I have not... It's my favorite and I have been making it for years to raves by everyone! (even my MOM!). During pregnancy many women have trouble with Anemia, even if they have never had issues in their life. I think it's also because of the constant monitoring of your vitals during pregnancy that it is detected more, if you are feeling sluggish and tired (sound familiar), you could just have the early signs of Anemia (or you could be just on the edge). At any rate, if you add adzuki beans and kombu (seaweed) to this recipe it can be a great healing dish for Anemia - click here for previous post on my blog about Anemia during pregnancy and full recipe.

kobacha squash

I use Kobacha squash, this squash is used frequently in Macrobiotics, it has lot's of flavor and it is rich in beta carotene, iron, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, folic acid and lesser amounts of B vitamins. The skin of the fully matured kobacha squash makes it almost like peeling a rock, so take care when doing this -- it's certainly a hefty arm workout! (if it's not that hard, it's possible it is not yet ripe - Kobacha squash takes three months to ripen off the vine) - but I promise you, this squash is worth it!!

You can also make this entire recipe in a pressure cooker, it comes out even more delicious and it's easier because you don't have to peel it, the skin get's really tender when in the pressure cooker. Pressure cooker details at bottom of recipe.

CARINAS SQUASH SOUP
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion chopped
1 small/medium size kobacha squash - peeled and cubed
sage - I use about a stem of fresh sage but you can also use dried sage
1 32 oz chicken stock or water (or even half and half)
1 tbsp tamari or shoyu (maybe a bit less...)

saute onions in olive oil (I use a La Creuset 2 quart Dutch oven type thing) - add the cubed kobacha squash and saute for a bit, chop up sage and add it to your saute - maybe 10 minutes or so... heat up chicken stock (just so that you are not starting over cold) or water and tamari and cook for about 30 - 40 minutes until the squash gets tender. I use a hand blender or you can use a blender to puree to the consistency you like and viola! you are done! it's super simple and amazing.

I like to serve it with roasted pumpkin seeds (roast a couple of handfuls in a cast iron pan) or make your own croutons.. kids LOVE homemade croutons! If you want it to be more of a meal and heartier I really like it with a bit of brown rice thrown in! It also makes a great pasta sauce! maybe even on pizza?!

pressure cooker:
saute green onions instead of onions... I don't know why but in the pressure cooker these taste better! in the pressure cooker on medium heat, wash the outside of the squash (and clean out seeds obviously), get all the dirt off and cut into slices (this is SO much easier than peeling a kobacha squash). Use less sage in the pressure cooker as flavors become more intense. Fill water up to the line (you may not fit all the squash in a pressure cooker) and add tamari or shoyu (again, less) - put lid on and cook at high pressure for about 10 minutes - buzz with a hand blender an you are DONE.. it's SO easy this way!!!

cereals organic or natural? what's the right choice...

WATCH THIS VIDEO!

Funny enough I have noticed the organic seal missing in many products that I thought were organic, and today I found out that it wasn't just my imagination. The Cornucopia Institute (a non-profit organization promoting economic justice for family scale farming) today released an informational video on breakfast cereals that will wake you up a bit and bring back your diligence about looking for the 'organic' seal. Because if you are like me I have totally been relying on my store to be informed, while I just trust them... but this is not the case, even if you are shopping it Whole Foods.

Watch the video by clicking here 
or to visit their website for more information and the 'cereal scorecard' click here

blog: minor de:tales

Today a very fun interview I did with Minor De:tales popped up in my inbox... Annica's blog came onto my radar a few weeks ago and I think they have something fresh and new going for them! (plus the added bonus that she blogs every day!) I love getting information from places around the world and she is in Australia (a Swede, living in Australia to be exact!), it's nice to get a view from somewhere else.

Annica has a section on her blog called "10 minutes with..." and she asked me to be a part of it and, of course, I was happy to oblige (I love these things!). So here you are... 10 minutes with Nonchalant Mom! and don't miss the chance to visit her entire blog.. it's beautiful! (and add her to your weekly read... it's worth it)


click here to see nonchalant mom story on minor de:tales
click here to visit minor de:tales

NYT Food magazine

I finally got a chance to read last weeks NYT magazine on Food and Drink, did you? It was full of terrific information about what's going on with food today, a bunch of history and recipes... an amazing recipe section in fact by Mark Bittman (of course it was Amazing!) - he took a dinner party and made it four ways: Mediterranean, East Asian, South Asian and Latin American - the same meal plan for each! (drinks, desert and all!) I learned how easy it is to make Horchata! and a bunch more...

Sam Sifton had some good things to say about why it's good to eat together at the table, then he went a step further and photographed nine families eating dinner together and asked them about their dinner, terrific! Here are a few facts that I liked: "Children who eat with their families have stronger vocabularies than those who do not. They do better in school. They are less likely to suffer from obesity. Family meals prevent teenage pregnancy. They are bulwark [nice word usage, it means: any person or thing giving strong support or encouragement in time of need] against depression". And my personal favorite: "Those who eat chicken around a table with kin tend not to sneak off to the park later to huff paint".

One of my favorite sections was "Mysteries Solved, Riddles Explained and Readers' Questions Answered" by Michael Pollan... terrific! I know a lot about food by most of this I didn't know if it was true or not... Michael demystifies this for us, thank you! "Is frozen produce as nutritious as fresh? What must government do to make healthful food as affordable as it's evil counterpart? How can you tell if food is genetically engineered? You will have to move to Europe or Japan for your food to be labeled with this information... or just buy organic, the USDA rules that organic foods must prohibit genetic engineering (whew!).

So, you get the picture... if you are going to read one issue this year.. this is the one to read!

click here for the link to the NYT magazine on food and drink
(not sure but this may only work if you have a subscription? if you don't have one... get one!!)
here's my tip, just get the Sunday NYT, this way you get the magazine, you get T, and it's just about enough information for you to consume in a week, plus you have paper to start your fire, on hand!?

vivian maier - street photographer

You may have heard of this story, especially if you live in Chicago, where local historian John Maloof purchased a box of Maier’s negatives from an auction house and began collecting and championing her marvelous work. Finally there is a new book coming out, the first time in print, Vivian Maier: Street Photographer which collects the best of her incredible, unseen body of work. The book goes on sale in November by publisher Powerhouse Books (click here for information). But the images really speak for themselves, the history that is presented in these beautiful photos is amazing, the expressions and the surroundings.

Vivian spent her life as a nanny, she never showed anyone her photos until her death in 2009 at the age of 83, just two years before John Maloof found her work. John stumbled upon a piece of her photos and then he went on to find the entire collection of her work and also more about her history, he then found her obituary just two days after she died.

A good street photographer must be possessed of many talents: an eye for detail, light, and composition; impeccable timing; a populist or humanitarian outlook; and a tireless ability to constantly shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot and never miss a moment. It is hard enough to find these qualities in trained photographers with the benefit of schooling and mentors and a community of fellow artists and aficionados supporting and rewarding their efforts. It is incredibly rare to find it in someone with no formal training and no network of peers.

see a news story about john and the vivian maier story on youtube here

NO school!? what!? - 10% off and free shipping

10% off and FREE SHIPPING

now through Monday, October 10th

KIDS, BABY, & anything for yourself... entire store!

10% off and FREE SHIPPING*

(on orders $100 or more)

USE CODE: 'friends'

*free shipping within USA on UPS ground only

free shipping will be taken off at time of shipping

(couldn't figure out ONE code for both... sorry!)

THANK YOU!!!!

love - carina

PASS IT ON....

diane keaton for bed bath and beyond?

WHAT? yes, I said the same thing... but they look pretty nice! I have not seen these things in person but I am always one of those people who is looking to change my bedroom with the season, so I am in need for a change and maybe this is it! It's pretty darn tasteful, as Annie Hall should be, but I can't help but think... does the younger generation of consumers relate Diane Keaton? So here I think to myself, I better get these goodies now because they may not be around long! (tell me this hasn't happened to you). This must be Bed Bath and Beyond's version on Missoni!?

Diane's philosophy, in which she says, "Remember driving by all those barns standing on the side of a country road. Remember the white washed wooden patina - each one an individual, but also an inherent part of the American landscape too. A simple life. My duvet collection offers the warm feeling of those great old barns, but most of all the dream of home, your home." Did she really say that... probably not, but I still like them... no way getting past that!

shop for the Diane Keaton bedroom collection here at Bed Bath and Beyond

you can get her design inspired dinnerware too!

got a blank wall... here's an idea!

Recently while we were at a street art fair, there was a beautiful artist painting by numbers on a large mural, I loved the idea and thought... I would like to do that! Then, later in the very same week I got an email about this wonderful little company... wallpaintbynumber... what a catchy name! Well, that is just what it is... you supply the image, you can choose the size, and the colors, it's all up to YOU. Now all you need is a blank wall, right?

Wallpaintbynumber is custom-made, personalized wallpaper. The wallpaper is based on a picture you send to wallpaintbynumber. This picture is converted to a “colour by number” pattern on wallpaper. Just grab your brushes and paint, choose the colour corresponding to the number and colour the panes. Create a perfect and original image for your wall, or even better yet, have fun painting it together with your child! Prices range from 195/euro - 345/euro for the largest 270 x 450 cm.

click here to visit the site and get more information.

new eco-kids! + contest!!

I am so happy to have this new line of hand made finger paints and play-dough, both in 5 color tubes, which are FANTASTIC! They are called Eco-Kids cause that's what they are... We took the play-dough with us on a car trip and we couldn't stop playing and making things and I sat in the front seat just kneading away at the stuff. I realized that it made my hands super soft and smelling great! (not that normal playdough smell...) maybe a touch of rosemary!? or is it the vitamin E oil? At any rate I love these guys and love what they are making!

 

vegetable colors that are amazing!

finger paints - color become VIBRANT when you add water!

SO as a special introduction we are offering a tube of playdough and a tube of fingerpaints! Just make a comment here and we will pick a lucky winner! (okay, so I have never done this before but I thought I might give it a go... so if you like the idea tell me so otherwise tell me that it's NOT a good idea! ha!)

I know you will love these, they make great gifts and it's always good to have some on hand! They come in eco-conscious corn starch jars that are perfect for re-packing and taking with you anywhere!

so have fun with ECO-KIDS! - click here to find on Nonchalant Mom

musical inspiration..

It all started with T magazine, I began to get interested in music again. Somehow in each issue they mention a band here or there as inspiration and I think, hhmmm I'm going to have to give them a go, and I have made some good music choices lately, thanks to T. I love how T is never inspired by movie stars, but much of the time it IS inspired by everyone else in the world! (not to mention every PLACE in the world!). Sally Singer I love you! (that's not music, that's editor)

Along with the T inspiration I figured that needed to ask my old friend Wayne what his music inspiration was right now. Wayne is a California guy at heart, but found himself in New York City for too many years, then ejected himself off to work in Italy for the past few years. Wayne knows more about music than anyone I know, and his taste is pretty out there, but most of the time he hit's it on the head. He is also the best Graphics man I know (he created the Nonchalant Mom website back in 2004 and it still works for me!). So without further A-do, here is Waynes current music list, he didn't say much about anything, except to say that it's mostly new music (he used to be very into old stuff, lots of jazz). I left it in his stream-of-consciousness kind of text because that's the way he is:

LANA DEL REY-VIDEO GAMES out in oct, Anna Calvi, john maus, Richard Buckner, wooden shjips, Benjamin Biolay, the war on drugs, chris smither (folk), Amina Alaoui (ECM), Anouar Brahem (ECM). Richard Galliano-Luz Negra. Rediscovered Violent Femmes-Hallowed Ground yesterday. All bert jansch from 60s, early 70s and 2000s (bert jansch, last cd black swan is excellent and his first simply called bert jansch is a classic).

I am sure that everyone is more tuned in than I am but I had not heard of ANY of these bands, I went through iTunes and ended up buying just about every one (except for the Violent Femmes, not into that but hey... I'm sure it's great) and I feel pretty good now thank you!

thanks Wayne! I am going to ask him if he will keep us in the loop every once in awhile, I have begged him to start a music blog... but I can't seem to get him to do it. COME ON Wayne!

hermes birthday party... what!?

I took a visit to the beautiful blog of Simple Lovely today and last weekend she went to the anniversary party for the Dallas Hermes store... holy COW! It was the 25th Anniversary of Hermes in Dallas and boy did they do it right.

There are so many ideas here... LOTS of wonderful inspiration that you can use for your own over-the-top amazing party! face painting can be sweet if you put your mind to it...

And these silver Mylar horses... just gorgeous! 

Fun can be in the simplest things... done right!

Josclyn takes such great images and I hope that they inspire you for a perfect party of your own... I think those horse shaped silver balloons have to be the BEST of all!

Jane Foster - genius!

genius! is Jane Foster... I found her etsy shop today via Design Mom, who ran a house tour which is fantastic as well (click here to see). I loved her house so much that when I went to her etsy shop I felt I had just hit PAYDIRT! bright and exciting prints that are colorful and simple (and ah, yes, SCANDINAVIAN influenced..). So far she completely delights me with her things and I can't imagine anything better

so watch out American Girl... here comes Tilda!!

She will come to you direct from Janes hands in Totnes, Devon in the UK - so you can buy her already stuffed ($56) or you can buy a kit to make her yourself! ($22/usd)

HOOO HOOO! who!? Jane also makes these perfect Owls! (love them all!)

I am going to give all of my friends these for christmas... there DONE!

click here to visit the Etsy site for Jane Foster
or to find out more visit her blog here

hello shiso...

Are you looking for simple, sweet, easy and just darn cute for your kids hair? Or maybe a cute little bib or ditty for yourself... hello shiso has some simple answers for you! Hello shiso accessories are made by an easy going Berkley mom who just comes up with enough cuties to make your life smile upon you more. I love these heart clips.

but here simple bibs, with just a bit of delightful embroidery make a perfect everyday soft bib

or catchy necklaces!?

And these new bracelets!

See how a tiny pretty thing can brighten up your day!

Thank you shiso mama! - visit hello shiso here

my favorite dinner!

Last night I made my favorite dinner in a long time... I don't know about you but my husband has been traveling for the last couple of weeks and although we do eat fine dinners just me and the kids, we tend to be VERY simple. The night before it was sushi rolls w/salad, a really simple pasta the night before.. you get the picture. But last night I went all out, it was like a date night at home with the kids (AND it was just a plain old Wednesday...).

We had Branzino (Mediterranean sea bass) baked 'sotto sale' or in salt, steamed radish tops and roasted potatoes (or as my son says - french fries!). Lately our local Whole Foods has had Branzino on hand and I think it's really nice to cook a whole fish (would rather CATCH the fish but maybe next time!) so that the kids see that we are eating fish and don't think that it's chicken all the time! For this reason I like to bring it to the table and serve it that way so that they can see me fillet the fish and everything.

Baking the fish in salt makes it incredibly tender and delicious, it just melts in your mouth. It's very easy, lie the fish on a bed of salt, add some olive oil to fish, fill the cavity with whatever herbs you have on hand (in this case I only had basil, oregano and sage), and then take salt and pack it onto the top of the fish too. Depending on the size of the fish you will use about 1/2 - 3/4 cup salt, and you can see how it almost cracks off when you are done. Use a good salt too like Si salt or a good sea salt. Italians like to add more olive oil (really GOOD quality olive oil) and salt and pepper to the fish on your plate but I don't think it needs it! You decide!?

Toss potatoes cut into large slivers with olive oil and rosemary, salt and pepper and put them on a roasting sheet and bake for a bit before you put the fish in a 400 degree oven. Put the fish in for the last 20 minutes. In the meantime cut the tops off radishes and wash really well (they are usually grown in sandy/dirt so it's always hard to get all that dirt out!) chop up and steam just a bit. Add a bit of salt and pepper before serving. The kids really like radish tops, they have just a watery flavor, radish tops are very high in vitamin C and an amazing source of calcium, they clean your blood, and all they while taste great! I also like to garnish the plate with some cut up radishes for color!

There you go... a REALLY easy DELICIOUS meal for you and your kids!

Oh and I almost forgot... the whole meal cost = Branzino $8.60 + 4 potatoes $2 + radishes (2 bunches) $2.40 = approx. $13

can't beat that for three people! even at McDonalds....